Katie Banowetz
Grand Mound, Iowa
Class of 2021
Why did you chose Central?
I decided to come to Central because I wanted to compete and be on a National Championship caliber softball team. I also knew that by playing softball at Central, I would not only grow as a softball player but I would also be challenged and grow as a woman. It was also comforting to know that I was going to be academically pushed as much as I would be pushed athletically and the professors respect/work with athletes when they have to miss class due to games.
Favorite professor and why?
I cannot narrow my favorite professor to just one, my top three are: Sara Shuger Fox, Katelin Valster, and Karen Cleveland. All three are very passionate about the materials they teach and they all bring an excitement to the material they are teaching that day and semester long. Not only do they want their students to succeed in that specific class, but they also want their students to be prepared for life after and beyond college.
You’re majoring in exercise science because?
It allowed me to take a variety of classes within the major and outside of the major that will help prepare me for my future career. With exercise science classes I have been able to take and practice a lot of hands-on material that has helped me better understand the material.
Besides athletics, what else are you involved in on campus?
I am on the SAAC leadership team, I am also involved with SALs and MVP organizations.
Who are your go-to musical artists?
Rascal Flatts, Chris Stapleton, Luke Combs and while it isn’t an artist I play the Mamma Mia soundtracks on REPEAT.
How has attending Central and playing a sport impacted your life?
I think the biggest life lessons I have learned from athletics and Central is that I can handle more than I think I can and that I can rely on others to help with my struggles. I might fall down or fail reaching my goals, but if I reach out and ask for help, I will not be going through things alone and succeeding with others means a lot more than succeeding by yourself.
If you could choose one hobby that may seem out of reach right now, what hobby would you take up and why?
Since we are in the middle of the pandemic, I would say that worldwide travel is out of reach and that is something that I cannot wait to be able to do.
What’s the worst job you have ever had
It was not the worst job I have ever had, but it was definitely the shortest job I have ever had, I was a cashier at Dick’s Sporting Goods for the last two weeks of summer going into my sophomore year. My paycheck went straight to buying myself new athletic apparel, so my bank account was probably happy it was only two weeks.
Who would play you in a movie about your life?
Jennifer Lawrence because of her love for wearing sweatpants/comfy clothes, her sarcastic nature, and she could make me seem way funnier than I actually am.
If you were invisible, where would you go?
Right now, because of COVID, literally anywhere outside of Iowa.
Favorite TV Show
New Girl, if I could make Schmidt’s voice as the voice of Siri on my phone my life would be complete.
What’s it like to play for Coach Wares?
Playing for Coach Wares is one of the most rewarding challenges I’ve ever had. Everyday he puts us into situations that are out of our comfort zones. They may not seem relevant at the time, but then there is a moment in a game or in life where the lightbulb goes off and it makes total sense. Even in my lowest of lows, Coach Wares found a way to push me and challenge me to “get through” that low and has shown me that I can handle my worst days and come out stronger.
What’s your favorite part about being a member of Central softball?
My favorite part of Central Softball are the alumni and the people I have met along my four years. Yes, I have loved playing the game here, but there is so much more to Central Softball than the game. Not only are we, as a team, challenged by coaches and other players, we are also challenged by our alumni because they want us to succeed as much as we want to and that is something that most programs are not fortunate enough to have.
What do you hope to be doing 10 years from now?
In 10 years I hope to be a practicing physical therapist, be married, and raising a couple doggos.
Favorite food from Central Market
You can never go wrong with CTO omelets or fried egg avocado toast.
Bucket list
- Win the National Championship in June
- Go to Greece and live out the Mamma Mia fantasy with Kendra Sexton and Kylie Olson
- Go skydiving and snorkeling
- Attend a Broadway performance of Wicked
- See Rascal Flatts in concert one more time
